Episode Details

Kieron Wilde
Founder and CEO
First Nature Tours

Kieron Wilde is an Ecologist and Entrepreneur with 18 years of tourism industry experience. His company First Nature specializes in curating tours for individuals, corporations, and school groups that blend education, adventure, and sustainability to make a positive impact on the planet. Kieron is also the Vice Chair of the Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance – a bi-state nonprofit dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism in the Columbia River Gorge region of Oregon and Washington.

summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Kieron Wilde, founder and CEO of First Nature Tours. Kieron shares his journey from growing up in rural Wisconsin to becoming a leader in sustainable tourism. He discusses his early passion for conservation, his transition into the tourism industry, and the founding of his company, which focuses on bespoke travel experiences in the Pacific Northwest. Kieron emphasizes the importance of sustainability in tourism and the need for meaningful engagement with the environment. He also shares insights on the challenges and rewards of running a destination management company and the future of regenerative travel.

takeaways

• Kieron grew up on a hobby farm in Wisconsin, fostering a love for nature.
• His early experiences in Boy Scouts shaped his survival skills and appreciation for the outdoors.
• Kieron's passion for conservation led him to study restoration ecology in college.
• He transitioned from conservation work to tourism to have a greater impact.
• Kieron emphasizes the importance of service industry experience for guides.
• First Nature Tours focuses on bespoke, sustainable travel experiences.
• The company operates as a destination management company (DMC) for the Pacific Northwest.
• Kieron believes in paying guides well to value their expertise and knowledge.
• He is passionate about regenerative travel and creating positive impacts in destinations.
• Kieron aims to engage travelers in meaningful conservation efforts.

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